8/3/14 Update from Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity Coalition

We hope to post updates every week or few weeks about the struggle to END long term solitary confinement. If you have any feedback for how we can improve these updates, or information you’d like to see, please let us know.

IN THIS UPDATE:

Weekly Meetings

Recent News Articles

Upcoming Events

 

1. Weekly Meetings: The Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity Coalition meets every Monday night in Oakland (and on the phone).

• The sole purpose of the Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity Coalition is to amplify the voices of California prisoners as they strive to achieve their Five Core Demands. The Coalition consists of family members, formerly incarcerated people, lawyers, organizations, and individuals who stand in solidarity with the hunger strikers. This weekly meeting focuses primarily on planning, promoting and reporting on actions and events directly related to the struggle for the Five Demands (primarily, to end long term solitary confinement), including prisoner updates and legal and media strategies and reports.

• If you are interested in participating in a Monday night meeting, please contact the Welcoming & Outreach Committee at  510-863-0477  or  PHSSReachingOut@gmail.com

 

2. Recent Newsletters, News Articles & Videos

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pz3syET3DY “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” 7/20/14 – This 20 minute segment covers solitary confinement and mass incarceration in general in the United States. Great video to share with your friends & family who aren’t paying attention to the prison crisis.

 

• JULY 8TH EVENTS took place nationwide to honor the start of last summer’s prisoner hunger strike, the largest in U.S. history:

  • To celebrate the movement: The California prisoner hunger strike one year later 7/14/14

  • Largest hunger strike in history: California prisoners speak out on first anniversary 7/8/14

 

• PRISON CENSORSHIP:
  Thanks to everyone who submitted a public comment about CDCr’s proposed censorship rules. Here is some news coverage:

• Prison censorship: cruel, but not unusual (Freedom Socialist Party)

• State Prisons to Institute New Censorship Rules 6/17/14 (East Bay Express)

• The California Prison System Is Cracking Down On “OBSCENE” Political Publications   6/18/14 (Vice Magazine)

• Are We Approaching the End of Solitary Confinement? 6/23/14 (Pacific Standard)

 

• August 2014 Issue of ROCK!

• BBC News: “Bedlam Behind Bars US” 7/7/14

 

3. Go to our CALENDAR to post or find upcoming prisoner solidarity and movement building events throughout California or any location.

 

• “SAVE THE DATE” September 6, 2014 for an event in Oakland to commemorate the end of last summer’s prisoner hunger strike, the largest in U.S. history. We will have more information soon.

In solidarity,
Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity Coalition (PHSS)